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Stay away from the West Cumberland Hospital - visitors told

CASES of norovirus have been confirmed at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven.

Due to the news revealed today (Wednesday), North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust is asking visitors to think twice before going to see patients.

Norovirus, the most common cause of vomiting and diarrhoea, is a nasty infection for anyone who gets it but can be particularly dangerous for people with other medical conditions.

Known as the winter vomiting bug, it affects between 600,000 and one million people in the United Kingdom every year. It is normally a short-lived, self-limiting infection from which people will usually recover within 12 to 60 hours.

The condition is highly contagious unless great care is taken to contain it so staff at the West Cumberland Hospital are asking anyone who feels unwell or has shown symptoms of Norovirus within the past 48 hours not to visit patients

The Trust’s advice to people visiting the hospital is:

Do not visit friends or relatives in hospital if you feel unwell

If you develop Norovirus, stay away from hospital until you have been free of symptoms for at least 48 hours

Wash hands regularly at the hand wash basins which are provided in every bay and cubicle as hand gels are ineffective against norovirus

Use chairs provided – do not sit on beds

Limit visitors to two per patient and avoid bringing very young children who may be vulnerable to infection.